Hit and run crash claims a life

A Terrebone Parish pedestrian died, the victim of a hit and run crash.

Victor Chavis Jr., 24, of Houma allegedly struck Alfred Stewart, 47, while driving his 2004 GMC Sierra east on North Bayou Black Drive in Gibson near the Jarvis Bridge sometime around midnight Sunday, according to state police.

Stewart, a resident of Gibson, was walking with his bicycle in the road when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported.

Chavis was the sole occupant of his vehicle at the time of the crash.

Chavis’ wife, McKenna Chavis, contacted authorities around 3 a.m. to report her husband had apparently hit something, said Sgt. Rodney Hyatt, Troop C spokesman.

And it was learned through interviews Chavis’ truck had been parked at his boss’ house in Donner, Hyatt said.

Chavis voluntarily submitted to a breath test around 4 a.m. His results were 0.012.

Roughly speaking, alcohol metabolizes in the body at an average rate of about 0.015 per hour, he explained. This is of course dependent on factors such as body weight, food intake and an individual’s metabolism, as well as activity.

But the formula would put Chavis’ blood alcohol level around 0.07 at the time of the incident, very near the state’s legal limit of 0.08, Hyatt said.

Chavis was booked at the Terrebonne Parish Jail for hit and run driving.